Information | Botswana

Useful Information for Botswana

PASSPORTS & VISAS

All visitors entering Botswana must hold a passport that is valid for at least six to nine months.

Visas are not required by British Citizens holding a British Passport and travelling on holiday to Botswana.

Address

Botswana High Commission Stratford Place, London, W1N 9AE

Botswana Tourist Office

Tel:020 7499 0031

DEPARTURE TAX

Guests must pay Botswana airport departure tax directly at the airport when departing the country.

INNOCULATIONS & HEALTH

Clients are advised to seek current information from NHS Direct:
Tel No: 0845 4647 or contact your local GP. Information is also provided online at: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
Anti-malaria tablets are strongly recommended - medical advice should be sought at least two weeks before travelling.
To prevent mosquitoes, try to cover up with long sleeves and trousers in the early morning and evenings, avoid wearing perfume and use plenty of mosquito repellent.
Remember not to under-estimate the strength of the sun - lots of sun cream, a good hat and sunglasses are recommended too.

CLIMATE

The hottest time of year in Botswana is also the wettest. The rainy season occurs in summer between October and April. Dry and cool weather, with cold and often frosty nights, occurs between May and September, when the average daytime temperature is a pleasant 25ºC (77ºF). The months between April and October are ideal for tourists in terms of weather and game viewing. This is the time when the wildlife is most prolific and easily spotted around the natural waterholes and dams.

BEHAVIOUR

Please avoid purchasing wildlife products such as ivory, horns, feathers, teeth and skins as the market created by these purchases encourages

poaching and terrible injuries to the animals themselves. Removal of coral, shells from turtles or any other kind of marine animal also causes a tremendous upset to the balance of marine life. Woodcarvings too, should be checked to ensure that the material comes from a renewable, sustainable source.

SAFETY

For the latest information, visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Travel Advice at www.fco.gov.uk/ or phone the ABTA Department on 0901 201 5050 (calls charged at 50p per minute).

Botswana remains a relatively safe place to visit, however there are a few incidents of crime. It is advisable to take basic precautions as in any large city: Always lock your car doors, always lock your hotel room, do not leave valuables in your hotel room or car; and take care with your bags in crowded places, particularly in the malls and night-clubs.

BANKING & CURRENCY

In major towns banking hours are from 9am to 2:30 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and on Wednesdays from 8:15 am to noon. Botswana banks will only accept US Dollars, Pound Sterling, Euro and South African Rand cash. Therefore any payments to camps for curios or gratuities to guides/staff need to be in one of these currencies. Travellers' cheques in any of the above currencies are also acceptable.

The currency of Botswana is Pula, which also means water.

LOCAL TIME

GMT +2 hours.

LUGGAGE ON AIR TRANSFERS

Air transfers on charter or private flights in Botswana have a luggage restriction of 20kg per person. This includes camera equipment and hand luggage. Only soft bags will be accepted no hard suitcases (maximum dimensions of the soft bags 36cm wide x 30 cm high x 81 cm long).

CUSTOMER ALLOWANCES

Travellers to Botswana can enter the country with goods to the value of P500 without incurring customs duty. These include 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2 litres of wine and 1 litre of alcoholic beverages; and 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.

DRIVING

Driver's licences with integral photos as well as the signature of the holder are required. The new British drivers licence complies with these requirements. The older type of British drivers licence must be accompanied by an International Drivers Licence, which can be obtained, from UK motoring organisations (AA - 0870 5500600).

Driving is on the left and speed limits are in kilometres. Cash is required to pay for fuel, as no credit cards are acceptable as payment for petrol. In all countries, driving at night is dangerous please try to avoid it. The few tarred roads in Botswana are good and away from these the roads are mere tracks requiring four wheel drive vehicles and experienced drivers. It is advised that if you plan to venture into remote areas that you travel in convoy with another vehicle.

LANGUAGE

Setswana is the national language of Botswana, however, English is the official business language and is widely spoken in urban areas with written communication also being in this language.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

230V running at 50Hz.
The Plug types used are:
1. Round pins with ground
2. Rectangular blade plug

TIPS

Tipping is expected in tourist hotels and restaurants. Many automatically add a service charge, but if not, a 10-15% tip is appreciated. Taxi drivers generally aren't tipped. Tour guides, trackers and game rangers rely largely on tips for their income and customarily receive about P25-45 per person per day.